Job Summary and Duties

SUMMARY
If you are considering a new job, work environment or career opportunities you should look at Mercer County Community College. MCCC is a publicly supported college that is open to all and dedicated to student success. In order to support that mission Mercer seeks to attract, retain, and support a skilled diverse workforce which is our most valuable resource. We thrive on and are proud of our diversity and open access. Our students and employees find the College large enough for a multitude of offerings yet small enough to keep the “Community” feel for all. The College consists of two campuses, the James Kerney Campus (JKC) in the capital city of Trenton, NJ and a larger 292-acre suburban campus just six miles north of Trenton.

As part of the comprehensive and valuable benefits package, the College offers credit course tuition waivers for employees, spouses and dependents. This allows for employees and their families to take advantage of earning a higher education degree without the high cost. The College offers students 69 Degree Program Options and 35 Credit Certificates from which to choose.

JOB DUTIES

• The Enrollment Advisor & Community Outreach Specialist serves as a key advocate for students, empowering them to overcome barriers and achieve their educational goals.
• Responsible for developing and implementing Community Outreach activities to engage with potential students, employers, and community organizations.
• Collaborate with various departments and stakeholders to increase program awareness, enrollment, and student success at JKC.
• Assist students in developing academic success strategies, including study skills, time management, and goal setting. Support students in exploring career options, identifying their strengths and interests, and connecting them with relevant resources and job placement opportunities.
• Assist with admissions, advisement, enrollment, and registration initiatives and activities in the JKC Enrollment Center. Work with Academic Affairs and Student Affairs at the WWC campus to ensure parallel services at both campuses.
• Assist the development of comprehensive Community Outreach strategies to target specific populations and communities, aligning with the College's goals and objectives.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide individualized advising and support to underserved students enrolled in credit and credentialing programs.
• Help students navigate program requirements, course selection, and academic planning. Offer guidance on career pathways, transfer opportunities, and available support services.
• Guide students through the application and enrollment process, ensuring all necessary documentation is submitted accurately and on time.
• Promote an inclusive and welcoming environment for underserved students, understanding and addressing the unique challenges they may face..
• Collaborate with campus offices and external organizations to ensure the needs of underserved populations are met effectively.
• Foster partnerships and collaborations with community organizations, employers, and industry professionals to create work-based learning opportunities, internships, and career development initiatives for underserved students.
• Engage with local communities to understand their needs and develop programs that address those needs effectively.
• Analyze data to assess program effectiveness and identify improvements.
• Prepare reports and presentations to inform college administrators and stakeholders about program impact.
• Stay informed about best practices, trends, and research in student success and support services.
• Attend professional development workshops, conferences, and training sessions to enhance knowledge and skills in serving underserved populations.
• Assist with creating and implement marketing plans to raise awareness of credit/credentialing programs and degree programs.
• Utilize various channels, such as social media, email marketing, community events, and advertising, to reach target audiences effectively.
• Assist with developing and implementing recruitment activities and strategies ,
• Guide registration & preplanning (Review Advanced Placement (AP) exams, Placement tests, dual enrollment etc..).
• Provide students with in-depth knowledge about program requirements, course selection, course description, and degree planning.
• Assist students with Add/Drops, Self-Service Assistance, and Teach Out Agreements and options.
• Provide guidance on testing, referrals, degree audits and student planner to support student success.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of academic programs, institutional policies, and external regulations affecting enrollment.
• Discussion of the College Level Examination Program CLEP and portfolio review.
• Assist in the recruitment, planning, scheduling, and delivery of orientation sessions, application and financial aid workshops, and campus tours.
• Coordinate/assist with onboarding of credit concurrent high school or pre-college programs.
• Utilize effective communication and relationship building with prospective students, parents, community partners, and college counselors by mail, phone, email, and virtual conferencing.
• Other duties as assigned.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
None.

CERTIFICATIONS, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS
Must have a valid Driver's License

ADA AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS (May vary depending on the position)
Positions in this class typically requires ability to use a key board, hearing, seeing and repetitive motions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, talk, and hear. The employee is frequently required to stand occasionally required to walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel and reach with hands and arms. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Sedentary Work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met.

Required Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field (such as communications, marketing, education, counseling or related field) from an accredited educational institution.
• Three to five (3 – 5) years of related work experience in Higher Ed.
• Strong knowledge of higher education systems, enrollment processes, and financial aid options.
• Knowledge of credit and credentialing programs, transfer pathways, and career development opportunities in the local community.
• Proficiency in using technology and digital tools for Community Outreach and marketing purposes.
• Competency of M.S. Office suite (excel, word, PowerPoint etc.) and ability to learn and apply the use of technology.
• Knowledge of workforce development programs, non-credit certifications, and degree programs in a college setting.
• Demonstrated experience in working with diverse stakeholders (faculty, students, and staff).
• Familiarity with the local community and understanding of its needs and demographics.
• Must be available to work some nights and weekends.
• Valid driver’s license and access to transportation.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

• Superior customer service skills
• Experience working with both traditional and non-traditional student populations.
• Experience advising students in a college environment.
• Exceptional knowledge of Colleague, Student Planner, and Self Service
• Ability to analyze administrative and operational scenarios and reach practical business solutions to optimize available resources.
• Ability to provide holistic and student-centered advising, recognizing the intersectionality of students' identities and experiences.
• Excellent organizational and project management skills, with the ability to multitask and meet deadlines.
• Extensive knowledge of enrollment trends in higher education with the ability to develop and implement strategies conducive to meeting enrollment and institutional goals.
• Ability to follow Academic Advising Policies set by the division of Academic Affairs and Director of College Advising and Academic Support.
• Sensitivity to the challenges faced by underserved populations and a commitment to promoting educational equity.
• Knowledge of research, trends and best practices for academic advising,
• Understand the use of data, goal setting and benchmark of student success.
• Understands leveraging of technology in student recruitment, student advisement and enrollment.
• Advocate for equity in access to resources, educational opportunities, and support services.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communications skills, combined with analytical competency, that can provide directive and persuasive initiatives and explanations.
• Decisive and solutions-oriented work style, positive attitude, and is excited about working across all units of a high-achieving campus environment.

Preferred Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Master's degree from an accredited institution in a relevant field.
• Bilingual.
• At least five (5) years of experience in a community college setting.
• Experience using Ellucian Colleague ERP system.
• Previous experience working with underserved populations, preferably in an educational or community outreach setting.

Core Competencies

CORE COMPETENCIES
To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies

Adaptability: Maintaining effectiveness when experiencing major changes in work tasks or the work environment; adjusting effectively to work within new work structures, processes, requirements, or cultures.

Building Trust: Interacting with others in a way that gives them confidence in one’s intentions and those of the organization.

Communication: Clearly conveying information and ideas through a variety of media to individuals or groups in a manner that engages the audience and helps them understand and retain the message.

Customer Focus: Making customers and their needs a primary focus of one’s actions; developing and sustaining productive customer relationships.

Decision Making: Identifying and understanding issues, problems, and opportunities; comparing data from different sources to draw conclusions; using effective approaches for choosing a course of action or developing appropriate solutions; taking action that is consistent with available facts, constraints, and probable consequences.

Diversity & Inclusion: Working with situations involving different cultures/languages and responding to the ambiguity of unexpected/unfamiliar approaches.

Facilitating Change: Encouraging others to seek opportunities for different and innovative approaches to addressing problems and opportunities; facilitating the implementation and acceptance of change within the workplace.

Managing Conflict: Dealing effectively with others in an antagonistic situation; using appropriate interpersonal styles and methods to reduce tension or conflict between two or more people.

Stress Tolerance: Maintaining stable performance under pressure or opposition (such as time pressure or job ambiguity); handling stress in a manner that is acceptable to others and to the organization.

Mercer County Community College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, marital status, religion, age, disability, handicap or other legally protected status in its provision of employment, education, and activities, or other services.

Mercer County Community College is an EEO/AAP Employer/Protected Veteran/Disabled ================================================================
Disclaimer: This job description outlines the general nature and key features performed by various positions that share the same job classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties and qualifications required of all employees assigned to the job. Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or re-assign duties to this job at any time due to reasonable accommodations or other business reasons.